As Told By: Manny Barbas from Ayla Skin

Meet Manny Barbas

At only 22 years old, Manny Barbas, along with his business partner James Hachem, have earned more than $1 million in just four months after developing the newest trendy skincare item. People around the world are going crazy for the Alya Skin Pink Clay Mask as their latest beauty must-have. Keep reading to learn how Manny first started his own business, how he used influencer marketing to expand his brand and his advice for entrepreneurs looking to pursue a career in beauty.

1. Tell us a little about yourself. How did you first get involved in the beauty world?
I’ve always had my eye on the beauty niche. I noticed initially that clay masks were trending, particularly on social media. I remember specifically telling my business partner James, “Watch, clay masks will be the next hype, similar to what happened with teeth whitening.”

2. Can you tell us more about how your company, Alya Skin, first came to be?
James and I started working on the brand early in 2017. It took us around six or seven months to perfect the product. We went through countless samples and suppliers to find the perfect formula. When we launched, we sent out our product to over 1000 influencers to post and give their feedback on the mask. Everyone loved it, which we were extremely happy about! Our brand has been growing ever since and we will continue to grow the brand (we have two new products coming out towards the end of the year)! Stay tuned.

3. What inspired you to start your own business?
Ever since I was young I was into business. When I was 13, I used to buy wholesale lollies at sell them individually at school… I have a drive in me that always wants more. I love working on a brand I can be proud of and watching a company grow. I didn’t know much about skincare before launching Alya, but I knew that there was a gap in the market for a killer face mask that was pink and that made your skin feel baby bum soft!

4. What sets your Alya Pink Skin Clay Mask apart from other face masks?
If I was to describe our mask, I would say it is quite a light mask compared to others. It is suitable for people with sensitive skin; we purposely formulated it to ensure that people who suffer from eczema and rosacea wouldn’t be negatively affected by the mask. Our mask also makes your skin feel baby soft after use and doesn’t dry out your skin like many other clay masks.

5. We know that influencer marketing has been an essential part of your marketing strategy. What is your process for partnering with influencers to share the word about Alya?
It sure has. I think we have around 5,000 influencers now. What has helped us grow the brand so quickly, particularly in Australia and New Zealand is using not just large influencers, but also micro influencers. We send product out to anyone who fits our demographic (16-35 year old females). We have a team of five staff who work solely on ambassador management.

6. What advice would you give to other young entrepreneurs or to someone pursuing a career in beauty?
The best piece of advice I can give is to simply start. So many people want to start a business but I think fear gets to them and prevents them from pursuing their dream. I didn’t know anything about business before starting Alya. The best way to learn is to learn from others and make mistakes as you go. Never be scared of making mistakes; I’m thankful for every mistake I have made. They have played a massive role in allowing me to be where I am today.

This interview has been edited and condensed.

Interested in learning more from professionals in the digital marketing and beauty industries? Check out the rest of our As Told By series.

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